Pastor Emertis Rev. Msgr. Martin F. Rauscher

Born September 17, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey.

Baptized at Assumption Church, Morristown, NJ  Oct. 25, 1931 by Rev.   W. G. Keen 

Attended Whippany Grammar School and then Morristown High School. 

Attended St. Paul’s Abbey Seminary in Newton, N.J in 1950
Solemnly professed as a monk on August 15, 1956. 
Attended St. Mary’s School of Theology at Delbarton 1954-1958. 

Ordained on May 31st, 1958 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson by Bishop James McNulty. 

He studied for one year in Munich, Germany, where he also served as a week-end chaplain for U.S. Air personnel,

He returned to Newton, New Jersey as Assistant Retreat Director and later as Director at Queen of Peace Retreat House, operated by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Paul’s Abbey. 

Involved in urban ministry projects in New Orleans and in Baltimore, Maryland. 

In 1972, he joined the Paterson Diocese and taught in DePaul High School in Wayne, New Jersey.

He served a term as Dean of the Southeastern Morris Deanery. 

He was the founding Pastor of Resurrection Parish, in Randolph, New Jersey – a parish which grew and developed in his Pastorate to the point where the new Parish was once again subdivided and Saint Matthew’s Parish in Randolph was created. 

Named a Prelate of Honor, (Monsignor) January 4, 1989 at St. John’s Cathedral, Paterson

On February 12, 1990, he was appointed the 15th Pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Morristown, New Jersey by the Most Reverend Frank J. Rodimer, Bishop of Paterson. 

Under his direction, the ministries, staff and physical plant of the Parish (including school, religious education and cemetery) have grown and flourished. 

Eliminated the $400,000 debt the school was carrying and created unity between the school and parish.

1993: Added the new Parish Center to the back of the church –  including community room, kitchen, meeting room and library.

Built two new Mausoleum Buildings at Holy Rood Cemetery ( 1996 and 2004 )  Refurbished the cemetery offices, restored the grotto to the Blessed Virgin and installed a memorial area to St. Gabriel .

2002: Re-purchased the old convent on Macculloch Ave. for use as Assumption’s Ministry Center.  The building now houses Religious Ed offices, meeting rooms, meditation room  and Youth Ministry area.

2006:  Raised 2 million for a capital campaign to renovate and refurbish Assumption Church

2007: Oversaw a six-month renovation – returning the Gothic building (1872) to its original roots - ensuring that all structural and decorative elements of the Church are now keeping with our Gothic tradition.

2009: September 8 – retired as Pastor Emiratis of Assumption Church.